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Naidu invites Israeli agro-tech companies to invest

Wednesday, 03 December 2003, 00:00 Hrs

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday invited Israeli agro-tech companies to invest in the state and help execute a massive micro irrigation project launched recently.

Addressing an agri-technology team from Israel visiting the state, Naidu said his government had launched the

11.57 billion Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) and other initiatives to irrigate nearly 40,000 acres providing ample opportunity for Israeli companies.

Naidu also invited the Israeli companies to help the state expand a micro irrigation project already being implemented in Kuppam, the constituency in Chittoor district that he represented in the dissolved assembly.

Israeli Ambassador to India David Daniell and representatives of the Israeli Export Institute and Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce and Industry were also present on the occasion besides the representatives of the BHC (India) Limited, which is implementing a micro irrigation project in Kuppam of over 2,000 acres.

Naidu said his government proposes to expand this programme to over 60,000 acres in the next three years, beginning with 20,000 acres in the next year.

During his presentation, Naidu explained how Kuppam had transformed into a food processing and micro irrigation model for the entire country.

"The net earnings per acre have increased from

5,000 per annum to

42,000 after the initiation of the micro irrigation programme," he said.

Also inviting Israeli investment in food processing and horticulture, Naidu said the government was ready to provide all assistance to companies coming forward for investment. He also urged the Israeli companies to set up their corporate offices in Hyderabad.

The two-day visit by the 20-member delegation was a follow-up to Naidu's visit to Israel in September. Information technology, biotechnology and security related matters will also be discussed during the visit.

During his three-day visit to Israel, Naidu had attended an agri-tech exhibition. He said the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute had agreed to conduct the exhibition in Hyderabad in January-February 2004.

As Israel is also doing very well in desert reclamation, Andhra Pradesh has evinced keen interest in adopting its techniques in the perennially drought prone Anantapur district.

Naidu also claimed that some Israeli companies had agreed to set up agro-processing units in Andhra Pradesh

Source: IANS

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